A future focussed peer network and European co-commission experiment

At a moment of continued uncertainty, EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) brings together independent performance festivals from across the UK and mainland Europe and invites them to rip up the festival rule book as they explore what the future of producing festivals will look like.

Imagining Futures connects nimble and adventurous festivals and fosters collaboration between the sector. It aims to spark new connections, support artistic development and encourage porous, international dialogue at a time when barriers seem to be increasing.

Across a series of online gatherings, the festivals will discuss the most urgent themes impacting artistic choices and festival logistics, and explore innovative formats for the future. Topics include climate change, care, representation, sustainability, artist development, funding, pace, rhythm and risk.

Key conversations will be documented and shared with cultural colleagues as these crucial discussions unfold. The festivals will also have funding to initiate collaborative, experimental commissions that respond to the shared values and emergent themes being discussed.

The network includes festival leaders from 5 UK festivals and 5 festivals from EU countries as a core group. A further 4 festivals from EU countries are also involved as associates, alongside London-based cultural institutes.

Gateshead International Festival of Theatre, England
Outburst Queer Arts Festival, Northern Ireland
Take Me Somewhere Festival, Scotland
Transform Festival, England
Submerge, England
Alkantara Festival, Portugal
Baltic Circle Festival, Finland
Batard Festival, Belgium
auawirleben Theaterfestival, Switzerland
Theaterformen, Germany
Undercloud Festival, Romania
Buffer Fringe, Cyprus
Tanec Praha, Czech Republic
ImageTanz, Austria
Goethe-Institut London, England
Finnish Institute, UK and Ireland
Embassy of Switzerland, London
Flanders House, UK
Portugese Embassy, London
Czech Centre, UK
Austrian Cultural Centre, UK
Romanian Cultural Institute, London
High Commission of Cyprus, London

Funding for Imagining Futures is secured through EUNIC Global (European Union National Institutes for Culture), the European network of organisations engaging in cultural relations, spanning 90 countries across the globe. The nine EUNIC London member institutes who are actively working on the programme represent Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland.